Latest news with #CIA-grade
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Russell Simmons sues HBO for $20M over defamation in documentary
Russell Simmons has filed a $20 million defamation lawsuit against HBO, Warner Bros. Discovery, and the filmmakers of the 2020 documentary On the Record. The lawsuit, submitted in Manhattan Supreme Court, alleges the film damaged his reputation and business interests by presenting a biased narrative that ignored critical exculpatory evidence. Simmons, a pioneer of hip-hop culture and co-creator of HBO's Def Comedy Jam and Def Poetry, claims the filmmakers and network disregarded CIA-grade polygraph test results, supportive interviews, and statements that could have cast doubt on the allegations of sexual misconduct featured in the film. The lawsuit names former HBO CEO John Stankey, and directors Amy Ziering and Kirby Dick, accusing them of engaging in deceptive business practices, causing emotional distress, and violating his legal rights. Simmons is demanding at least $20 million in damages and the immediate removal of On the Record from HBO and all affiliated platforms. His legal team argues that continued streaming of the documentary constitutes a 'republication' of defamatory content, further harming Simmons' reputation. Despite confidential settlements with some accusers, Simmons maintains his innocence, stating he never had a non-consensual or unlawful sexual encounter. The lawsuit also mentions that prominent civil rights leaders and members of Congress urged the filmmakers to consider additional evidence, but their appeals were allegedly ignored. Simmons says the international distribution of the documentary has amplified the damage to his name. The film premiered at Sundance Film Festival in January 2020 and was later released on HBO Max. Before its debut, Oprah Winfrey stepped down as executive producer, citing inconsistencies in the featured stories. Simmons continues to deny all allegations made against him, asserting his legal battle is about restoring his name and legacy.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Russell Simmons Hits HBO With $20M Defamation Suit Over 2020 Documentary Alleging Rape
With Oprah Winfrey very publicly exiting as a producer, Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering's documentary On the Record, about the women who accused hip hop impresario Russell Simmons of rape and more, was controversial even before its debut at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. Now, years later, Simmons is claiming again he had proof the allegations cited in OTR were false or at least questionable in their truth. Living in Bali of late, the much-accused Def Jam co-founder is going after HBO, parent company Warner Bros Discovery and the filmmakers for $20 million in a defamation action filed today in NYC – and he's naming names, past and present. More from Deadline Channel 4 Says It Doesn't Use NDAs, But Documents Reveal Company Is Curbing Free Speech Of Aggrieved Ex-Employees Sean "Diddy" Combs' Faces New Accuser "Jane" Wednesday; Trial Dominated Today By $100K Payment For "Only Copy" Of 2016 L.A. Hotel Footage Of Cassie Ventura Beating Jury In Harvey Weinstein Rape Retrial Set To Start Deliberations Wednesday - Update 'The Defendants willfully, intentionally, negligently, and/or recklessly, disregarded and/or suppressed evidence and information, including interviews, and over twenty witnesses, that were supportive and favorable to Plaintiff, and/or refuted and rebutted the accusations falsely made against Plaintiff in the film,' exclaims the complaint placed in the Supreme Court of the state of New York docket late Tuesday by attorneys Imran Ansari and Carla DiMare. The duo not only want a hunk of cash for their much-accused client, but they also want the Drew Dixon (a former Def Jam exec), Sheri Sher, Sil Lai Abrams, Jenny Lumet, and Kelly Cutrone featuring On the Record, which HBO Max picked up in February 2020, essentially scrubbed from 'all platforms, networks and media outlets in the Defendants' control' so to never be seen again. Naming those names, Simmons' complaint adds: 'The evidence and information were made available to Defendants, including then CEO of WarnerMedia John Stankey, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, Casey Bloys, and the company's board members, by the Plaintiff, and/or others on his behalf, however, the Defendants disregarded and/or suppressed said materials.' 'Defendants further disregarded nine consecutive credible and favorable CIA-grade polygraph results, and/or information favorable to Plaintiff that was provided to them or would have been discovered with due diligence, and adherence to accepted journalistic standards, and that Defendants willfully, and/or recklessly, disregarded and suppressed said information and evidence, and published, and continue to republish defamatory content,' it goes on to state. HBO and WBD's scarce communications boss (and ex-Obama press secretary) Robert Gibbs had no response when reached out to by Deadline over Simmons' new swipe at the docu. While repetitive of what was in their actual filing, the same cannot be said of Simmons lawyers. 'Despite voluminous support for Mr. Simmons in the form of credible information, persuasive evidence, witness statements, and calls for further investigation by notable members of the media, politics, and the civil rights movement, the defendants simply disregarded it, and released, and continue to re-release globally, a film that tremendously disparaged and damaged Mr. Simmons with salacious and defamatory accusations that he vehemently denies,' Ansari and DiMare told Deadline this AM of the Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning Dick and Ziering. In the overlapping nature of #MeToo lawsuits, it is worth noting that Ansari is a partner and chief of the civil litigation practice of Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins – a firm founded by longtime Harvey Weinstein lawyer Arthur Aidala, who literally is in court for his ex-producer client's NYC rape retrial as it goes to the jury today. That trial is taking place not far from where Sean 'Diddy' Combs, a clear protégé of Simmons on may levels, is on trial in federal court on charges of sex-trafficking and more. Corporately, On the Record was supposed to screen on AppleTV+ under the streamer's deal with Winfrey, but when the talk show queen pulled out of the film over concerns about 'some inconsistencies in the stories,' that avenue became a dead-end. After a strong reception at the Robert Redford founded Sundance, just as Covid-19 was hitting the world, the film was bought by HBO and aired on what was then called HBO Max on May 27, 2020. While Simmons has denied the allegations against him from a variety of women, it seems he has not been so prompt to pay up sums he agreed to. A trio of women who reached settlements with Simmons said in filings earlier this year that he still owes them around $8 million. To be specific, after reaching deals in 2023 and paying up initially, Simmons still owes Alexia Jones $190,000 with 20% annual interest, journalist Toni Sallie $2,940,000 with 20% annual interest, and $4,950,000 to singer Tina Klein-Baker. Living in Bali, Indonesia since 2018, around the time the allegations against him began to peak, and having founded an upmarket retreat. Simmons is out of the reach of U.S. justice. There is no extradition treaty between the world's fourth most populous nation and America. Best of Deadline 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery 2025-26 Awards Season Calendar: Dates For Tonys, Emmys, Oscars & More 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery
Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Russell Simmons files $20m defamation lawsuit against HBO over sexual misconduct docu: Here's a look at his net worth
Russell Simmons has sued HBO for a whopping $20 million. He filed the defamation lawsuit after accusing filmmakers of a documentary detailing sexual misconduct allegations against him of 'suppressing evidence' that refuted the accusers' claims, the New York Post reported. Simmons has accused the creators of the 2020 film 'On the Record,' a documentary about women accusing the hip hop mogul of sexual misconduct, 'willfully' ignoring evidence 'including interviews, and over 20 witnesses' that were favorable to Simmons. The evidence would have reportedly 'refuted and rebutted the accusations falsely made against Plaintiff in the film' and was presented to the filmmakers, and top HBO and parent company Warner Bros. executives. However, according to the lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court on Wednesday, June 4, the materials were ignored. The lawsuit added that the evidence includes 'nine consecutive credible and favorable CIA-grade polygraph results' that HBO 'disregarded.' The lawsuit also noted that the film's backers were 'requested' to review the evidence by unnamed 'luminaries in media and politics, including but not limited to, civil rights leaders and members of Congress, and other high-profile black leaders.' Simmons alleged that Oprah Winfrey, former executive producer of the film, left the project 'after publicly noting inconsistencies in the accusations.' He also alleged that several news outlets 'declined to publish defamatory content.' Winfrey, however, previously said that it was Simmons who pressured her to quit the project. She added that she still believed Drew Dixon, the woman at the center of the film. Simmons has a net worth of $10 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He is best known for co-founding Def Jam Recordings with Rick Rubin in 1984. Simmons later went on to sell his portion of Def Jam Recordings to Universal Music Group for $120 million. Simmons' successful career was marred by allegations of sexual assault, which surfaced in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Several women accused him of misconduct spanning over three decades.
New York Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Russell Simmons sues HBO for $20 million over bombshell documentary alleging sexual misconduct
Hip hop mogul Russell Simmons says filmmakers of a documentary detailing sexual misconduct allegations against him 'suppressed evidence' that refuted the accusers claims, according to a new $20 million defamation lawsuit filed against HBO and the film's creators. Simmons says that the 2020 film 'On the Record,' a documentary about women accusing the Def Jam records co-founder of sexual misconduct, 'willfully' ignored evidence 'including interviews, and over 20 witnesses' that were favorable to Simmons. HBO is accused of discarding CIA-level polygraph results. John Roca Advertisement The evidence, which would have 'refuted and rebutted the accusations falsely made against Plaintiff in the film,' was presented to the filmmakers, plus top HBO and parent company Warner Bros. executives, but they ignored the materials, claims the lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Manhattan Supreme Court. That evidence includes 'nine consecutive credible and favorable CIA-grade polygraph results' that HBO 'disregarded,' according to the lawsuit. It notes that the film's backers were 'requested' to review the alleged exculpatory evidence by unnamed 'luminaries in media and politics, including but not limited to, civil rights leaders and members of Congress, and other high-profile black leaders.' Advertisement Simmons cites how former executive producer of the film, Oprah Winfrey, left the project 'after publicly noting inconsistencies in the accusations,' and claims that news outlets — including The Post — 'declined to publish defamatory content.' But Winfrey told reporters at the time that Simmons had pressured her to abandon the project, and that she still believed the woman at the center of the film, Drew Dixon.
